● SAFA faces McKenzie’s wrath as visa errors strand Broos’ squad 11 days before Mexico opener
South Africa’s World Cup preparations have hit turbulence before kickoff, with Bafana Bafana forced to suspend travel to Mexico after an administrative visa error left players and officials stranded at home.
The team was scheduled to depart OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday aboard a charter flight to Mexico City, then head to their training base in Pachuca. Instead, players remained grounded after several failed to secure U.S. transit visas hours before departure, while applications for some team officials were rejected.
—Broos trains, SAFA scrambles—
Head coach Hugo Broos has continued training sessions in Johannesburg as SAFA officials race to resolve the paperwork nightmare. The delay throws Bafana’s build-up into disarray with just 11 days to their June 11 World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico, followed by group games in the U.S. and Mexico.
Reports indicate the error was administrative, not diplomatic. Multiple players were still awaiting U.S. embassy approvals when the flight was due, exposing cracks in SAFA’s logistics chain.
—McKenzie demands accountability—
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has ordered SAFA to submit a full report and “called for accountability”, insisting those responsible be sanctioned for embarrassing the country.
“This latest setback adds to ongoing concerns about administrative challenges within South African football,” including delayed player payments and the 2022 qualification scandal involving an ineligible player.
—Return to World Cup stage—
Bafana Bafana are returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010. They have never progressed beyond the group stage in 3 previous appearances. Now, with visas delaying camp in Mexico, questions are mounting over whether off-field issues will undermine their return.
SAFA has not announced a new departure date as officials engage U.S. and Mexican authorities.
